Voluntary Action Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society－Results of Fiscal 2020 Follow-up-<Overview>
March 16, 2021
Keidanren

1. Voluntary Action Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (FY2016-)* 45 participating industries(1) Reductions in final waste disposal volume of industrial waste (Fourth Target)⇒ Industry as a whole “aims to reduce by fiscal 2020, the final disposal volume of appropriately treated industrial waste

by 70% from the actual performance level in fiscal 2000 “ with consideration of the achievement of a low-carbon society.

(2) Industry-specific targets with a view to improve the quality of resource circulation⇒ Set up individual targets based on consideration of industry-specific characteristics and circumstances for improving thequality of resource circulation.(e.g. target recycling rate for byproducts generated during a product’s manufacturing stage)(3) “Industry-specific plastic-related targets” (fiscal 2019-)⇒Based on the Keidanren’s “Opinion on formulating the ‘Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics’” (Nov. 2018), set up industryspecific targets contributing to resolving marine plastic litter issues and promote plastic resource circulation.

Background (reference)(1)1997(2) Dec. 1999
(3) Mar. 2007

(4) Dec. 2010(5) Mar. 2016
(6) Apr. 2019

Formulated the Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment (Section on Waste Disposal Measures); annual follow-ups
Set up First Target: 75% below FY1990 performance level of final disposal volume of industrial waste in FY2010
Renewed to the Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment (Section on the Establishment of a Sound Material-CycleSociety)Set up Second Target: 86% below FY1990 performance level of final disposal volume of industrial waste in FY2010
Set up industry-specific targets (using indicators other than final disposal volume)
Third Target: 65% below FY2000 performance level of final disposal volume of industrial waste in FY2015
Set up industry-specific targets (using indicators other than final disposal volume)
Renewed to Voluntary Action Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, Set up abovementioned targets
Set up “Industry-specific plastic targets”

1２．Performance in fiscal 2019: (1) Reductions in final disposal volumeof industrial waste (Fourth Target)◇ Final disposal volume of industrial waste in fiscal 2019 (total for 32 industries) was approx. 4.03 million tons.
◇ Supported by the high standards of Japanese companies, approx. 77.8% below performance in fiscal 2000 (baselineyear), overachieving the target level of the Plan (reduction by around 70%)
◇Increase of approx. 0.19 million tons (approx.5.0%) below performance in fiscal 2018.
This is assumed to be a consequence of increased construction work resulting from measures to maintain the functionsof important infrastructure for disaster prevention and mitigation, while industries advanced their efforts to reduce
industrial waste volume and to promote the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle).

<Total final disposal volume of industrial waste general by participating industries>

Final disposal volume of industrial waste

10,000 tons

[Performance in fiscal 2019]
Final disposal volume of industrial waste: approx. 4.03 Mtons
Approx. 77.8% below performance in FY2000 (approx. 18.17 Mtons)(approx. -70%)

(FY)

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2． (2) Industry-specific targets & efforts◇42 industries set up and engaged in efforts toward individual targets in line with industrial characteristics andcircumstances〔Examples of industry-specific targets〕••••

Achieve recycling rate of around 95% in FY2020
Maintain volume of industrial waste generated at levels notexceeding 1,000 ton
Reduce volume of municipal solid waste from business activities by
55% from fiscal 2000 level.
Reduce volume of paper containers and packaging used per unit
sales by 50% relative to year 2000 levels

•
•
•
•

Achieve a procurement rate of at least 75% for recycled paperand environment-friendly paper
Achieve a steel can recycling rate of at least 90%
Maintain zero emission (final disposal rate of 1%)
Maintain a recycle rate of 100%

◇In addition to target-based efforts, industries were engaged in efforts towards establishing a sound material-cycle society〔Examples of efforts〕＜Efforts to reduce environmental burden through product life cycles＞••
Establish recycling routes through collaboration across the supplychain••
Design products that are easy to recycle••
Visualize environmental effects by implementing product LCA•
Consider labelling programs for environment-friendly productsReceive and treat waste from other industries and contribute toreducing final disposal volumes
Formulate and implement product assessment manuals
Omit and simplify packing and introduce returnable packing
material＜Development of new technologies and products＞•Develop technologies to utilize biomass•
Develop technologies to recover energy from waste••

Generate biogas from waste
Develop recyclable containers and packaging＜International contribution / overseas activities＞•
Support introduction of recycling systems•
Provide biomass power generation boilers to Southeast Asia, etc.

••

Engage in overseas tree-planting activities
Implement overseas CO2 reduction support projects＜Other＞•Beautification and cleanup activities in rivers, beaches and roads•
Promote paperless operation through digitization••

Cooperate in treating disaster-related waste treatment
Participate in environment-related events32. (3) Industry-specific plastic-related targets◇ From the perspective of deepening voluntary approaches by the business community that contribute to solving
marine plastic litter issues and promoting plastic resource circulation and of expanding the horizons of such efforts,
industries set up “industry-specific plastic-related targets” based on the Keidanren Opinion (November 2018).
◇40 industries have announced 85 “industry-specific plastic-related targets
In fiscal 2020, industrial associations will continue discussions and seek to enhance their targets.
◇Keidanren will promote these voluntary approaches and seek to contribute to solving plastic issues.

〔Plastic-related quantitative targets (34 targets)・Quantitative targets, including target recycling rates and effective utilization rates (18 targets)・Quantitative reduction targets, including targets to reduce weight and volume of use (6 targets)・Quantitative targets regarding the reduction of final disposal volumes (4 targets)・Quantitative targets regarding the implementation rate of measures taken by member companies (6 targets)〔Plastic-related qualitative targets (51 targets)・Targets regarding reuse and recycling efforts and the promotion of such activities (16 targets)・Targets regarding the promotion of reduction measures (8 targets)・Targets regarding the promotion of beautification activities in communities, rivers and beaches (4 targets)・Targets regarding educational and awareness-raising activities targeting member companies and customers (12targets)・Targets regarding the development of new technologies, including biomass technologies and recycling technologies(9 targets)・Targets regarding the proactive purchasing of environment-friendly products and support for environmentallyadvanced companies (2 targets)4

<Reference> Voluntary Action Plan for Promoting the 3Rs in Containersand Packaging◇The Liaison Committee of Associations Promoting 3R, comprising 8 containers and packaging
recycling organizations, formulated the “Voluntary Action Plan for Promoting the 3Rs in Containers
and Packaging” in March 2006, based on Keidanren Proposal “Toward the Establishment of an
Effective Recycling System for Containers and Packaging” (October 2005).
◇Individual targets have been set up for each material type of container or packaging andannual follow-up surveys are conducted, renewing target levels, as required.
<Recycling rate targets and performance>
MaterialIndicator

Glass bottles
PET bottles
Steel cans
Aluminumcans
Plastic
containers andpackaging
Paper
containers andpackaging
Paper
containers forbeverages
Cardboardboxes

Recycling rate

Recycling rate

FY2020 target

FY2018
performance

No less than 70％

67.6％

No less than 85％

85.8%

No less than 90％

93.3％

No less than 90％

97.9％

No less than 46％

46.4％

No less than 28%
Collection rate

26.6％

No less than 50％

41.4％

No less than 95％

94.6％<Reduction rate targets and performance>
FY2020 target
FY2019MaterialIndicator(relative toperformance
FY2004)
Glass bottles
PET bottles
Steel cans
Aluminumcans
Plastic
containers andpackaging
Cardboard
boxes
Paper
containers forbeverages
Plastic
containers andpackaging

Reference: PET bottle collection rate: 93.0% (Performance in FY2019)

Average weight
per bottle
(can)
500ml
milk carton
Average weight
per m2

1.5% lighter
25％ lighter
8％ lighter

1.7％
24.8％
8.1％

5.5％ lighter

5.4％

3％ lighter2.9％

6.5％ lighter

5.5％

14％

13.1%

16％

17.6％

Reduction rate

53. Near future challenges
Understanding the status quo◇

Japan has been very successful in its efforts to achieve a Sound Material-Cycle Society, supported by cooperationand collaboration among national government, local governments, operators, consumers and non-profit organizations.

◇On the other hand, the circumstances related to efforts toward resource circulation are changing significantly withthe emergence of marine plastic litter issues and the introduction or strengthening of bans against plastic wasteimports in emerging economies.

◇ As international collaboration, including agreement on the G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine
Plastics Litter and sharing the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, is taken forward, the resource circulation field is becoming
increasingly important.

Challenges and future efforts◇

Keidanren will continue to promote the Voluntary Action Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, andactively and voluntarily engage in the promotion of the 3Rs by not only reducing the final disposal volume ofindustrial waste, but also improving the quality of the material cycle and enhancing industry-specific plastic-related
targets.

◇In light of the fact that the further promotion of the 3Rs approaching its limits under current technological levels
and legal system, it is essential that the Government improves and reviews the administration of the regulatory
framework and offers policy support. In particular, given the introduction and strengthening of import restrictions
on waste plastics in China, etc. Japan is challenged with the urgent need to re-establish its domestic plastic
resource circulation system.

◇Guided by the basic principle of “delivering on the SDGs through the Realization of Society 5.0., Keidanren willcontinue to engage in a wide range of innovations, including not only technological innovations, such as developing
new feasible low-cost technologies, but also lifestyle transformations through collaboration and cooperation among
various sectors and strata of society. Furthermore, we will promote “Integrated Environmental CorporateManagement,” addressing climate change countermeasures and biodiversity conservation activities, as well as
resource circulation measures, as critical business management issues.
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＜Reference＞Policy for the Voluntary Action Plan for Establishinga Sound Material-Cycle Society from 2021 and beyond◇ Initiatives taken toward establishing a sound material-cycle society are not only important for Japan,
in light of its limited domestic resources, but are increasing their importance globally, givenlooming resource constraints due to a growing population.
◇ We also need to address new challenges, including marine plastic litter issues and waste import
restrictions adopted by other countries.
◇ In our continued efforts to create and promote innovation, we will encourage the Japanese business
community to engage in voluntary approaches, under three targets: (1) reduction targets for thefinal disposal volume of industrial waste; (2) industry-specific targets; and (3) industry-specificplastic-related targets.
(1) Reductions in final disposal volume of industrial waste (Fifth Target)⇒ The business community will collectively aim for 75% reduction by fiscal 2025 of the final disposal volume of
appropriately treated industrial waste relative to the fiscal 2000 actual performance level with consideration given
to achieving a low-carbon society.
(2) Industry-specific targets with a view to improve the quality of resource circulation⇒ Industries will voluntarily and individually set up industry-specific targets based on consideration ofindustry-specific characteristics and circumstances for improving the quality of resource circulation.
(3) “Industry-specific plastic-related targets” (fiscal 2019-)⇒ Industries will set up targets that contribute to solving marine plastic litter issues and to promoting
plastic resource circulation. In addition to further enhancing targets, we will widely communicate such
efforts in Japan and overseas.
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